Conference-centre jobs to be axed

The Yorkshire Post understands that 30 to 35 members of staff could be made redundant at the Harrogate International Centre after sources estimated it made a loss last year of around half a million pounds.

Harrogate Council said that slashing the 100-strong workforce would save around £200,000.

The proposal is one of a raft of measures the authority has put forward as it battles to meet a £600,000 budget shortfall – including imposing charges for disabled car parking spaces, shifting responsibility for the maintenance of public toilets to parish and town councils and cutting leisure centre budgets.

Unions have warned cutting so many staff at the centre – which is credited with generating £100m for the wider regional economy in the last year – could damage prospects for recovering from the economic crisis.

Town hall chiefs have defended the plan, stating there are too many staff to meet the needs of the centre, which is understood to be struggling to fill its diary with bookings all year round.

Leader Mike Gardner would not confirm the planned redundancy figures, but said the authority did not have the funds to absorb the losses being made.

He said: “The HIC like all conference centres is very susceptible to downturns and we are going through one of the worst in living memory.

“Discussions are on going with staff at the moment and there may be redundancies, but these discussions are at an early stage and we are exploring all options available to us.

“The fact is the council can only afford to lose so much money and at the moment it is losing a lot of money through the HIC.

“We do not need all of the staff to meet the current demand. We cannot keep absorbing costs and at some stage we are going to have to bite the bullet and bring staff numbers down.”

Unions have said they do not believe the job cuts are necessary and the cuts could hurt the regional economy.

David Houlgate, Unison branch secretary, said: “For many years the conference centre has generated income into the local economy – it is estimated the benefits last year were well over £100m.

“It is now in a position where it has had a bad year, and faces what is likely to be a difficult year or two ahead.

“But we do not believe that the losses being made are entirely down to the recession and we are putting forward ideas that we believe could help increase income, rather than just cutting costs.

“For example you have to question why the centre does not have a sponsor?

“The centre has been a massive success story for the local authority, we believe it can continue to be and can survive these difficult times without cutting jobs.”

One of the criticisms levelled at the HIC has been the lack of leadership after it went nearly four months without a director.

Now Angus Houston has been appointed. He started this month after leaving the Ricoh Arena in Coventry and it is hoped extra revenue streams can be secured.

Despite the difficulties, the HIC has been nominated for the Best UK Conference Centre award. The awards ceremony takes place on February 28.

The cuts at the HIC are among a raft of measures being considered by council chiefs who have estimated the authority is facing a shortfall of £628,300 next year.

The council is also considering charging for disabled car parking spaces, which are currently free, which it is estimated will make £55,000.